Latch



(.No Model.)

E. SONEDEOKBR.

LATCH.

No. 434,732. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

WEIN

Wz'nesses: Innen/Zo:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM SONEDECKER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,732, dated August 19, 1890.

Application tiled March 2l, 1890.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EPHRAIM SONEDECKEE, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches for Doors and Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in latches for doors and gates; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to attach to the door or gate a latch-box which will catch upon the top of the catch and serve to brace or straighten up the door or gate and prevent it from leaning upon the post or jamb.

Figure l is a plan view of the latch whichembodies my invention, the parts being shown in position. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detached viewsof the different parts of the latch.

A represents an ordinary reversible catch, which has its outer upper corner rounded away, so that the projections B upon the latchbox will mount or rise readily thereon.

The latch-box C is preferably of the construction here shown, and is provided at each of its upper corners with a projection B, which has its lower end rounded away, as shown, so as to adapt it to move up the inclined surface of the catch. Near the center of the inner recessed side of this latch-box C is a conical projection D, upon which the latch G is pivoted. The latch extends across through the latch-box, as shown in Fig. 1, and being pivoted upon the projection D no screw or other fastening device is needed for the latch. There being a projection B at each upper corner of the box, and the latch being adapted to be reversed in position, the latchboX and the latch are made right and left, and thus adapted to be applied to either side or edge of a door or gate.

Serial No. 344,821. (No model.)

Vhen the door or gate swings shut, the projection B strikes against the rounded upper corner of the catch and serves to raise the gate or door slightly at lthe same time that the upper end of the latch strikes against the f rounded lower edge of the catch, and is depressed until its upper end passes below the point upon the catch, when it rises into the recess or notch prepared to receive it. The inner end of the latch being heaviest, the shorter outer end is made to rise automatically' when left free to move, and hence after being depressed by the point of the latch it immediately rises into position, the end of the latch catching in the catch and the projection B catching over the upper edge of the catch. The gate or door is latched at the same time that the weight of the free end of the door or gate is supported by the projection on the latch-box. Before the gate or door can be opened the inner end of the latch must be raised so as to depress the outer end below the catch, and then the gate or door can be swung open'. Any attempt to raise the gate off its hinges will only result in making it latch the gate more securely.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- l. The combination of the catch, the latchbox provided with projections upon its c orners, and a latch pivoted in the box, one of said projections on the box adapted to engage or be supported by the said catch, substantially as described.

2. The vlatch-box provided with projections upon its upper opposite corners andV having a projection upon its inner side with the latch which is pivoted upon the projection and which can be reversed in the boX, and a catch which is adapted to be reversed in position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EPHRAIM SONEDECKER.

Witnesses:

R. FLICK, L. A. REED. 

